City rated high on promoter?s card

TOOWOOMBA could be on the verge of bigger things in the world of boxing according to leading promoter Tony Caradonna.

The Sydney-based promoter was in Toowoomba on Monday to inspect the USQ Clive Berghofer Recreation Centre, where he will host his first Queensland promotion on November 6.

Caradonna's Blaster Promotions has joined forces with Glenn Wheatley and Blue Corner to bring this event to the city.

He has plans to return to Toowoomba again in the future, believing there is plenty of local talent to work with.

"We've been working with Mick (Katsidis) for awhile, and there is plenty of good local talent around," Caradonna said.

"Boxing in Toowoomba looks to be well-supported, and we're hoping to give the fans here something exceptional.

"As well as Mick on the card, we're also bringing another world-ranked Australian, which we should confirm in the next couple of days.

"This venue is great, which we knew, because we've joined forces with Glenn Wheatley, whose brought John Farnham here twice.

"We're really looking forward to working up here."

Caradonna also confirmed he was looking to bring a world title bout, which is likely to feature Shannan Taylor, to Australia before the end of the year, which would feature Katsidis as the main preliminary bout.

That bout would be held in Melbourne on December 5, with highly rated American Angel Manfredy shaping as Katsidis' likely opponent.

"We're doing everything we can to get Manfredy out here to fight Michael and that would be a huge fight for Australia," he said.

Manfredy, a former World Boxing Union (WBU) world champion, has fought in 12 world title bouts and has a record of 43 wins, eight losses and a draw.

The 29-year-old has fought many of the world's best, including Floyd Mayweather Junior and current world champions Arturo Gatti, Diego Corrales and Julio Diaz.

He beat both Gatti and Diaz.

Before that, however, Katsidis will have to overcome Argentinian Sergio Liendo (62-20-3) for the IBF Pan Pacific lightweight title on the November 6 promotion, which will feature eight professional bouts.